Brighton striker Glenn Murray looking forward to Chelsea challenge after celebrating last win on the Tube
Boxing Day match is one of the first fixtures the Seagulls striker looks for at the start of the season
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IT’S not often I’ve found myself crammed on a Tube full of Chelsea fans though when I did, the circumstances were in my favour.
Less than a couple of hours earlier I’d scored the winner for Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge and there I was shoulder to shoulder on the Tube.
The Gaffer gave me permission to go straight home to Brighton and I didn’t fancy battling the traffic out of London.
When I decided to take the train I hadn’t envisaged celebrating an historic win for Bournemouth at the home of the champions.
I go in to every game believing a win is possible but victory that day was unexpected so I guess I didn’t worry about my travel plans.
It was the 2015-16 season hailed as clash of the English champions as Bournemouth had won the Championship.
On that day, the under dogs came out on top and luckily enough I was in the right place at the right time after only being introduced a matter of seconds earlier.
To be fair to the Chelsea fans on the train later, the worst I got was a few dirty looks — some were double-checking the away pages of the programme to weigh up if it was me.
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And having also enjoyed a few very competitive games at the Bridge with Crystal Palace I’m looking forward to going back there today.
The Boxing Day match along with the opening and final days of the season are games I look for first when the fixture come out.
First and foremost — especially for Boxing Day and the last day — are we home?
Unfortunately not this year but the next thing I hope for are games against big clubs and having entertained Manchester City our first game and Liverpool away on the last, I’m relishing today.
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When a smaller club goes to a stadium like the Bridge you have to approach the game cautiously — making sure you stifle their world-class talent then build off that and try to and get a foothold in the game.
We are confident we can carve out some opportunities and we understand today will be difficult but that’s not to say we don’t go into the game believing we can win.
Winning and scoring at places like Chelsea is what you grow up dreaming of, so doing so with Bournemouth was a moment to cherish.
Chelsea is a club I’ve always had a soft spot for as they have kept faith with playing a traditional strong and physical No 9.
When the fashion in football has swayed from small and speedy strikers to a fluid or false nine, the Blues have found success with the likes of Didier Drogba, Diego Costa and now Alvaro Morata.
Today will be a huge test for us.
I’ve no plans to take the train home but I hope to re-live the joy of scoring and winning at the Bridge.